learning circle question

....after a stop of two week for work out of my country i'm returned to gym ti doing circle and my friend who is at level 8 say to me a particular tip that i've never listen...so i want to know if it is a correct tip...

so......think you are doing circles clockwise...i start at six o'clock...after swing the legs i go at 9 o'clock....now he said to me that when i am at 11 o'clocl i must turn my body ( i think my hips NOT legs) in the opposite direction of the legs...he said that in this way i prepare my body to go on the back....i've tried it and I notice a good difference in my circles form but after 2 or 3 circles i have NO energy...it's very expensive for me....but in your opinion is the correct tecnique?

Thanks for who answer...Alex

Counterturning your hips is the correct technique for circles.

It will change your technique and circle if you haven't been doing this but it is necessary in the long run.

I noticed that not all gymnasts do this particular thing....and that many gymnast bend their body (a little) when they start a new round of circle....so their hips are not extend like Xiao Qin...i've tried these two different tecnique and with the xiao's tecnique i can do more circles...if i'm not piked i can do better my circles....therefore what is the correct tecnique? Piked or not piked? i've noticed that Xiao is the only gymnast which has his back always arched

Xiao Qin's technique is what you should be striving for. Full extension. Straight body -- NOT hollow and NOT arched is preferable.

If you can get a video it would be most helpful in evaluation.

Winner on pommel horse at the world championship 2009 has almost the same body line as Xiao.

Why all gymnast are not straight as a stick? Simply because is god damn hard!!! That kind of line can hold only few elites.